When he unwrapped his arm, she carefully cleaned the wound with a clean cloth. He winced but remained unresponsive."Hurry up, please, Miss," Thane spoke abruptly. "The Alpha and the Luna will be coming to see him soon."She nodded and moved forward to touch the fiery red flesh. As soon as her fingers touched his arm, his eyes flashed open."No," he growled, low and commanding. "Do not touch me!"She backed away and looked at him. "It's me, Landon," she begged. "I just want to help you."His eyes burned with light and anger and she dropped her head and breathed deep. He was hurt. He probably didn't know what he said."You need to have your arm bandaged up," she began slowly. "It will heal so much faster. Just let me do it. I implore you." She attempted to reach for him again, but he pulled his arm back, making a pained face."Landon?" she pleaded, tears welling up in her eyes."Out!" he yelled, supporting his arm with his chest and struggling to sit up. Blood oozed from the gashes. "O
A deafening boom shook the stillness of the night, then frantic screams and pounding on Scarlett Axel's cottage door. She was left sitting upright, her heart racing."Scarlett! We need a healer!! Scarlett! Hurry!!"The words sent her shivering. She leaped out of bed, her mind racing. Something must have happened that would require her so urgently? She pulled on her shoes and threw on a sweater, yanking it down over her head as she hunched over at the sink, splashing water on her face. She quickly bound her hair back into a low ponytail. Her system was filled with nervous energy, and she struggled against the urge to wring her hands.Something terrible must have occurred.She had only received a few months of healer training. She only knew simple bandages and salves. If there was magic in the wound, she wasn't sure if she'd be able to help.Her hands sweated at the possibilities. Wolf shifters that they were, they could heal themselves unless the wound was extremely bad or magical."Yo
-----------Four Years and Half Months Later----------The forest existed beneath Sharon Spark's paws, leaves crunching, twigs snapping, the scent of pine and damp soil wrapping around her. Alexander ran and dodged through the trees ahead of her, his form lean, dark, and full of the boundless energy that only youth could bring.Michaelson Luthor probably could have kept up with his longer stride, but he stayed with Sharon. They moved in a pack of three, and their Alpha never left the others to fall behind.They jumped across a stream, water flying in all directions, and Sharon reveled in the feeling of cold droplets on her nose. Luthor howled, and Alexander howled with him. Sharon didn't howl, but she laughed inside, happy. Content. Whole.Alexander had come a long way, and his wolf was strong and stable. Sharon did not feel strong, but her transformation was smoother and smoother, and Luthor informed her that strength would come with time.As Alexander chased sparkling fish through th
Scott rolled his eyes. "Oh, great idea, Tenzclaw. I'll just go train them right now.""I'm serious," Luthor snapped. "Why not train them? Why should we be the only ones allowed to defend ourselves?"Klaus frowned at him. "We've never done it before, Luthor. That's.not how things are done.""Yeah, well, maybe things need to change." Luthor glared at both of them. "Look. I'm not saying we change all at once. But if these strange wolves are going to be a threat, why not prepare? Why not help our women and our Omegas learn how to defend themselves, too?"The other Alphas looked at each other, clearly unsure."Unity is going to be important going forward, and unity is about how we lead. We only grow stronger if our women are just as capable as our men." Luthor sighed, leaning forward in his chair. “You still run your packs like they’re old-school. Hierarchy, dominance, always looking down on the weaker wolves, the women. That’s what I’m seeing. That’s how we’ve all been taught to lead. And
"You couldn't have known what Mason would do," Luthor told him, "It's not your fault.""Still. We, ah, have some amends to make. With Sharon, that is.""You do." Luthor was firm but not unkind. "And I have no doubt you'll figure out how to do it."Bladina snuffled, hiding from them and towards her car. She looked back at Sharon, tears forming in her eyes. "I'm sorry. For everything."And with that, they drove away in their car. Sharon leaned back against Luthor, comforted by his touch. "Am I a fool for being so kind to them, even after they treated me like a fool all throughout my childhood?""No." He nuzzled the top of her head, "It makes you my Omega."It wasn't appropriate to go into Scott's coffee shop after Sharon had spent so much time thinking he was the one who had attacked her, but it wasn't for a social visit. It was business, and pack business was always uncomfortable.At least it was warm on the inside, redolent with cinnamon and roasted coffee. Sharon grabbed a huge cinna
Mark cleared his throat. "I've taken care of the others," he stated. "Klaus is waiting for us at the line of territories. Let's go home. I'll let Scott know about the warehouse full of dead bodies tomorrow.""Home," Sharon sighed, "Please, Luthor."It was a blur, those next couple of minutes. Luthor carried his mate to Klaus's truck, keeping all others away from her, and Mark tagged along behind them. When they reached Luthor's property once more, he breathed a deep sigh, relaxing now that the tension left his body. Sharon was safe, and he could breathe again.She needed a doctor, she needed food, she needed water, and she needed sleep, and she was going to get it. He'd make sure of it. He'd fucking kill anyone who tried to take her away from him again. Three days had passed since the rescue, but the pain remained—physical and psychological.Mason had punched Sharon unconscious and stoned her so that she could no longer access her magic. The pain when she'd tried to access it had been